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Elma Pearl McDonald passed away peacefully at Brucelea Haven in Walkerton on December 5th, 2024 in her 104th year. Elma will be missed by her sons Doug (Maureen), and Bill (Sharon), and her grandchildren Chris, Mark (Laila), and Kate. Elma was predeceased by her loving husband Doug, by her parents Amos and Pearl Attwood, and her siblings Jack (Muriel) and Ruth Attwood.
Elma was born in Fordwich, Ontario on November 4th, 1921. At age 7, her family picked up and moved the great distance from Wingham to Teeswater, Ontario, where she continued to live for the majority of her life. As a child Elma was known for being an excellent student, a softball pitcher, an avid hockey player and always being a hard worker.
After finishing high school Elma worked for Thompson Brothers Creamery at the egg station and in 1944 she decided that she wanted to become a nurse, with the goal of going overseas to assist the war effort. While her boyfriend, Doug, had gone overseas to become a bomber pilot during World War II, she went to nursing school at Stratford General Hospital and graduated top of her class as an RN in 1947.
During her time there she worked very diligently to maintain her grades as well as make her mark in more unique ways. Anyone who knew Elma, knew she was quite the character and she had quite the colourful stories. While she attended nursing school she helped organize the school’s very first walkout to protest after one of her classmates was wrongfully expelled when she was caught in an incomplete uniform because she temporarily removed her cuffs to prevent them from getting soiled. This was long before the days of scrubs. This story even made it into the local newspaper after their classmate was reinstated. The war ended before she graduated so she continued to work at the Stratford Hospital.
Doug returned home safely from the war and proposed to Elma in 1946 and they were married on November 8, 1947. Elma continued her rebellious streak and walked herself down the aisle as her father would not support her marrying outside of her religion. Doug and Elma had three sons; the first passed away at birth, followed by two healthy boys, Doug and Bill. The family purchased a small acreage at the edge of Teeswater. They lived there until purchasing the local grocery store in Teeswater in 1959 and moved into the apartment above the store and became very well known and active in their community. Later, they bought and moved to a small farm just north of Teeswater.
Doug passed away in 1993 and Elma moved to Walkerton shortly after. In her later years, Elma kept herself busy by painting beautiful ceramics, crocheting, baking and spending time with her grandkids. Elma loved spoiling and attending sporting events for her three grandchildren; Chris, Mark and Kate.
Elma lived her last 3 years at Brucelea Haven in Walkerton. Our family would like to give a huge thank you to all the compassionate, caring staff who treated her like family. Our family cannot thank you enough.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 10, 2025, at Sacred Heart Church, Walkerton. Fr. Leszek Szczygiel officiating. Reception to follow in the Sacred Heart Parish Hall.
Interment in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Teeswater.
As expressions of sympathy, donations to Walkerton District Hospital Foundation or Brucelea Haven Activation Fund would be appreciated by the family. Donations and condolences may be made online at www.cameronfuneralhomes.com
Thursday December 5th 2024
Death notice for the town of: Walkerton, Province: Ontario
death notice Elma McDonald Thursday December 5th 2024
obituaries notice Elma McDonald Thursday December 5th 2024
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Elma McDonald Thursday December 5th 2024 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
